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JOIN NOWquick feet on second defense for an older person
Good morning. I need help urgently for a older person. She is playing WD and I don't know how to help her on getting on defense quicker. Thank you in advance.
Netball CoachCoach
ANSWERS
Sharon BakerCoach, England
I found myself as I got older that I needed to adapt to keep up with the young whipper-snappers on court. In my opinion, the key is actually not trying to keep up with their pace - instead use your WDs experience of the game to ensure they are positioned better to defend.
The WD needs to learn to use body angles to "encourage" the WA high and wide. Positioned slightly behind but at an angle, actively offering an open space into which the WA can run, but it's actually dictated by the WD. In this way, the WD is slowing the progress of the ball down the court, forcing more passes, as opposed to more actively seeking out the "glory" intercepts!
This could be developed into a team strategy for instance, if all team members are defending to one side, options are limited for the other team, and also another team member could pick up a high placed WA, and the WD drop back to double mark in the goal third/around the goal edge.
By marking off the body slightly, the WD can also tempt in the pass, and look to intercept. Again, if the WD can recognise where and when that ball is likely to come, and get the timing right, this can also be successful.
I hope that helps as an alternative to just sending her out on a run programme!
Janet Coach, Australia
Great answer Sharon. Your suggestion of marking off the body is a useful strategy to help a slower or mature age player watch the ball flight and her player at the same time as dictating available space. This could provide an intercept opportunity if they are able to react quickly enough or at least limit passing opportunities. Zone defending rather than player defending in the goal third and slowing down passes into the goal circle are better strategies against a quicker WA rather than trying to keep up with them and failing. It is pointless for a coach to ask team member to stick on their player when they clearly can't and offering more achievable strategies and a team approach is what coaching should be about.
